Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Apr 19: A sudden and severe hailstorm has devastated Kashmir’s prized fruit industry, causing extensive damage across the Valley.
On Friday evening, intense hail storms accompanied by lightning, thunderstorms, and strong winds wreaked havoc in several districts, destroying fruit-laden trees and crops. The worst affected areas include Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Anantnag, Budgam, Baramulla, and Kupwara, where apple, cherry, pear, and plum orchards suffered significant losses.
Farmers reported that the violent weather not only stripped fruits prematurely but also broke branches and uprooted entire trees in some areas. Locals described the hailstones as unusually large and destructive, wiping out delicate blossoms and immature fruits within minutes.
“Our orchards were full of hope. Now everything is destroyed,” said Ghulam Nabi, an orchard owner from Shopian. Many farmers estimate losses in lakhs and fear a devastating blow to their seasonal income.
Kashmir’s horticulture sector, particularly its world-renowned apple industry, forms the backbone of the region’s economy. Any damage to this sector creates ripple effects across Jammu and Kashmir.
Officials from the Horticulture and Revenue Departments have begun assessing the damage, with preliminary reports indicating substantial losses. On Saturday, additional hail storms were reported in Tral area of Pulwama district.
Bashir Ahmad Bashir, President of the Fruit Growers Association Kashmir said that orchard owners across Shopian, Kulgam, Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Budgam, Pulwama and other districts have suffered irreparable damage from the April 18 natural disaster.
“This extreme weather has severely impacted Kashmir’s fruit industry, a pillar of our economy. While we cannot control the weather, the absence of a crop insurance scheme compounds our suffering,” Bashir said. “The hailstorm has dashed all hopes for our growers, with ripple effects throughout the horticulture supply chain. These losses represent a major economic setback for the entire region.”
The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers and Dealers Union has repeatedly appealed to the government to implement a crop insurance scheme for the horticulture sector.
“It’s unfortunate that despite government announcements, no crop insurance scheme has been implemented here,” Bashir added. “The situation is especially dire for marginal growers, whose livelihoods depend entirely on orchard income.”
The Union has consistently urged authorities to establish protection measures against natural disasters like hailstorms, gusty winds, and heavy rains.
“Without crop insurance, poor and marginal growers bear the full burden of these losses. Ninety percent of Kashmir’s fruit growers are small-scale operators who rely completely on orchard income. When disasters strike, they face extreme hardship.”
The Union demands immediate implementation of a crop insurance scheme for Jammu and Kashmir’s horticulture sector. They have also requested that SKUAST and Horticulture Department officials assess the recent damage and announce a comprehensive compensation package for affected orchards.
